Bernice Washington

Bernice Washington poses for a portrait at Robertson Towers for the Six Intriguing People of Tuscaloosa Magazine on August 20, 2008.

Staff file photo | Dusty Compton

By Angel CokerStaff Writer

Published: Wednesday, April 9, 2014 at 3:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, April 9, 2014 at 12:47 a.m.

Bernice Hudson Washington was always helping somebody, said her daughter, Alice Page. The way she sang and her desire to help others is what Page remembers most about her mother.

Washington, 84, who died Sunday of congestive heart failure at the home of her daughter in Northport, was recalled Tuesday as a pillar of the Tuscaloosa community. Through her work as an addiction counselor and resident commissioner at the Tuscaloosa Housing Authority, she touched the lives of countless people.

Helping her brother overcome his alcohol addiction pushed Washington into a lifelong career counseling alcoholics and drug addicts and influenced her daughter to become a nurse, Page said.

“I watched her every day doing different things (to help people) and it taught me to be loving and kind,” Page said.

She said her mother's genuine love for people was made obvious through her work. Washington joined the staff at Indian Rivers Community Mental Health and Mental Retardation Center when it formed in 1972.

In 1974, Washington's idea for a center that offers preventive programs for alcoholics and drug addicts came to fruition. Washington headed the Insight Center until her retirement in October 1994. On May 29, 1993, the Insight Center was dedicated in her honor as the Bernice Hudson Washington Insight Center.

Throughout her 20 years as a certified addiction counselor at the center, Washington expanded the concept of overcoming addiction to include the families of the addicts. She sought to help those families also overcome the domestic violence and financial problems often linked to addiction.

Page said she recently spoke with a man who credits her mother with helping him stay sober for 34 years.

She said her mother would cook on weekends and set up games of checkers and dominoes at her home to give recovering addicts a place to go instead of getting in trouble.

“I didn't mind sharing her with the rest of the world,” Page said. “Being an only child, I never was lonely because she would always have a houseful of people.”

Tuscaloosa City Council President Harrison Taylor said many of the people Washington helped would greet her with hugs when they saw her in the community.

“She was a hero for them and to them. She will be missed,” Taylor said.

Washington served as a home service counselor and a commissioner for the Tuscaloosa Housing Authority as well.

In 2012, the housing authority dedicated Bernice Hudson Washington Estates, a nine-house development for homeowners near McKenzie Court.

“She was a true public servant in the community,” Taylor said. “She was a strong advocate for the people and those who lived in the housing authority complexes.”

Ralph Ruggs, executive director of Tuscaloosa Housing Authority, said that in the brief time he knew Washington, he admired her dedication and concern for the residents and community.

Tuscaloosa Mayor Walter Maddox agreed.

“Mrs. Washington was an extraordinary person who led an extraordinary life,” Maddox said. “She exemplified what servant leadership was all about, and we are all going to miss her dearly.”

Visitation will be from 2:30 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Van Hoose and Steele Funeral Home, 2615 Stillman Blvd.

The funeral will be at noon Monday at Bailey Tabernacle CME Church, 1117 23rd Ave., where Washington was a member for about 40 years and a lead singer in the choir. Burial will follow at West Highland Memorial Garden.

<p>Bernice Hudson Washington was always helping somebody, said her daughter, Alice Page. The way she sang and her desire to help others is what Page remembers most about her mother.</p><p>Washington, 84, who died Sunday of congestive heart failure at the home of her daughter in Northport, was recalled Tuesday as a pillar of the Tuscaloosa community. Through her work as an addiction counselor and resident commissioner at the Tuscaloosa Housing Authority, she touched the lives of countless people.</p><p>Helping her brother overcome his alcohol addiction pushed Washington into a lifelong career counseling alcoholics and drug addicts and influenced her daughter to become a nurse, Page said.</p><p>“I watched her every day doing different things (to help people) and it taught me to be loving and kind,” Page said. </p><p>She said her mother's genuine love for people was made obvious through her work. Washington joined the staff at Indian Rivers Community Mental Health and Mental Retardation Center when it formed in 1972.</p><p>In 1974, Washington's idea for a center that offers preventive programs for alcoholics and drug addicts came to fruition. Washington headed the Insight Center until her retirement in October 1994. On May 29, 1993, the Insight Center was dedicated in her honor as the Bernice Hudson Washington Insight Center.</p><p>Throughout her 20 years as a certified addiction counselor at the center, Washington expanded the concept of overcoming addiction to include the families of the addicts. She sought to help those families also overcome the domestic violence and financial problems often linked to addiction.</p><p>Page said she recently spoke with a man who credits her mother with helping him stay sober for 34 years. </p><p>She said her mother would cook on weekends and set up games of checkers and dominoes at her home to give recovering addicts a place to go instead of getting in trouble. </p><p>“I didn't mind sharing her with the rest of the world,” Page said. “Being an only child, I never was lonely because she would always have a houseful of people.”</p><p>Tuscaloosa City Council President Harrison Taylor said many of the people Washington helped would greet her with hugs when they saw her in the community.</p><p>“She was a hero for them and to them. She will be missed,” Taylor said.</p><p>Washington served as a home service counselor and a commissioner for the Tuscaloosa Housing Authority as well.</p><p>In 2012, the housing authority dedicated Bernice Hudson Washington Estates, a nine-house development for homeowners near McKenzie Court.</p><p>“She was a true public servant in the community,” Taylor said. “She was a strong advocate for the people and those who lived in the housing authority complexes.”</p><p>Ralph Ruggs, executive director of Tuscaloosa Housing Authority, said that in the brief time he knew Washington, he admired her dedication and concern for the residents and community. </p><p>Tuscaloosa Mayor Walter Maddox agreed.</p><p>“Mrs. Washington was an extraordinary person who led an extraordinary life,” Maddox said. “She exemplified what servant leadership was all about, and we are all going to miss her dearly.”</p><p>Washington is survived by her daughter Alice Page; granddaughter, Sonja Henley; grandson, Vanraybern Thames; stepdaughter, Betty Dickerson; their spouses; and three great-grandchildren.</p><p>Visitation will be from 2:30 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Van Hoose and Steele Funeral Home, 2615 Stillman Blvd.</p><p>The funeral will be at noon Monday at Bailey Tabernacle CME Church, 1117 23rd Ave., where Washington was a member for about 40 years and a lead singer in the choir. Burial will follow at West Highland Memorial Garden.</p>